My name’s Matthew Stogdon, I’m an award winning director (Cheesemint Productions) and film critic. This site chronicles my reviews and thoughts on the latest releases from 2004 to the present date.

I also host a fortnightly Film Quiz at Cinema City in Norwich. All the details and links to past questions can be found in the navigation bar.

Unlike other critics, my reviews are designed to be read as post-viewing analytical reflections rather than simply a recommendation to watch a film. As such, spoilers are often present (though clearly marked) and the tone implies a familiarity with each respective film.

If you have any comments about my reviews, by all means email me at mstogdon@yahoo.co.uk or tweet me @stoghz

Cinema City Film Quiz #42

Winning Team:If You’re Thinking Of Goin’ To The Film Quiz Alone.. Don’tGenre – Cautionary harrowing public information film from the 70’s

Runners Up:False GravelGenre – Builders new wave of new waveYou’ve Got Dead On YouGenre – Zombie Comedy SequelNever Let Me GrowGenre – A horticultural nightmare of home grown clones and an obsessive and lonely gardnerPuckman LegacyGenre – Period piece (in the early 90’s) where Puckman reclaims his true identity and throneLet The Right One WinGenre – Rom-Zom-Vam-ComDogs Can’t Look UpGenre – A Pixar movie directed by Edgar Wright

ROUND I: Pre-Production
1. John Wayne’s frequent use of “That’ll be the day” throughout one film inspired Buddy Holly to write which song? [bonus point for naming the Wayne film in which this quote is said]
THAT’LL BE THE DAY [The Searchers]
2. What colour was Herbie, in The Love Bug?
WHITE
3. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” was a quote from which film? [bonus point for naming the actor who said it]
GONE WITH THE WIND [Clark Gable]
4. What is the name of Han Solo’s co-pilot, in the original Star Wars trilogy?
CHEWBACCA
5. Caddyshack focuses on which sport?
GOLF
6. In The Addams Family, Gomez Addams has a love for model: Cars? Planes? Trains?
TRAINS
7. What was the subtitle of the South Park movie?
BIGGER, LONGER AND UNCUT
8. Who played Danny Ocean in the 1960 original and 2001 remake of Ocean’s 11? (one point per correct answer)
FRANK SINATRA / GEORGE CLOONEY
9. The Max Max trilogy was filmed in which country?
AUSTRALIA
10. What was the title of the most recent Disney animated release?
TANGLED
11. What is the name of the adapted ballet being performed in Black Swan?
SWAN LAKE
12. What was the last film directed by Steven Spielberg?
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

ROUND II: Filming [Edgar Wright Special]
1. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World is based on which comic book series?
SCOTT PILGRIM
2. What is the name of Ed and Shaun’s housemate played by Peter Serafinowicz?
PETE
3. What is the name of the Gloucestershire village that Nicholas Angel is sent to, in Hot Fuzz?
SANDFORD
4. Scott Pilgrim is set in which country?
CANADA
5. Who portrays Shaun’s stepfather in Shaun Of The Dead? [bonus point for naming the character]
BILL NYE [Philip]
6. In Hot Fuzz, one of Nicholas Angel’s first assignments is to locate what kind of bird?
SWAN
7. What is the name of Scott’s band in Scott Pilgrim?
SEX BOB-OMB
8. Which of the following records was not thrown at the zombies in the garden, in Shaun Of The Dead? Purple Rain? The Batman Soundtrack? Dire Straits?
PURPLE RAIN
9. Who cameo’s as Janine, Nicholas Angel’s ex-girlfriend, in Hot Fuzz?
CATE BLANCHETT
10. How many different types of tea does Ramona offer Scott in Scott Pilgrim?
SIXTEEN
11. Edward Woodward was asked to play Professor Tom Weaver, in Hot Fuzz, as a nod to a strict policeman he played in which 70’s film?
THE WICKER MAN
12. The pub used in Shaun Of The Dead is in fact the same one used in The Long Good Friday as the Lion and Unicorn. True or False? [bonus point for naming the pub in Shaun Of The Dead]
FALSE [The Winchester]

ROUND III: Post-Production
1. How long is Snake Plissken given before the microscopic explosives rupture his arteries in Escape From New York?
TWENTY FOUR HOURS
2. What was the name of John Lithgow’s character in Footloose?
REV. SHAW MOORE
3. What is the name of the café where Amelie works as a waitress?
THE TWO WINDMILLS
4. What was the title of the 1975 sequel to True Grit that starred John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn?
ROOSTER COGBURN
5. What are the titles of Gus Van Sant’s ‘death trilogy’? (one point per correct answer)
GERRY / ELEPHANT / LAST DAYS
6. Including the title character, how many samurai band together in Sanjuro?
TEN
7. Who played the roles of Mario and Luigi in 90s disaster, Super Mario Bros? (one point per correct answer)
BOB HOSKINS / JOHN LEGUIZAMO
8. What was the title of Kevin Costner’s first western (and breakout role)?
SILVERADO
9. Who directed Three Men And A Baby?
LEONARD NIMOY
10. What was the name that Fogell chose for his fake ID in Superbad?
MCLOVIN
11. Metropolis, Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari and The Golem belong to which twenties genre/cinematic movement?
GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM
12. What type of McDonalds breakfast meal does the homeless man ask Sonny to buy for him, in Big Daddy? [bonus point for naming the actor who cameo’d as the homeless man]
EGG MCMUFFIN [Steve Buscemi]

ROUND IV: Promotion & Release
1. Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King won all of its eleven academy award nominations, how many of the thirteen nominations did Fellowship Of The Ring win? 0? 2? 4?
FOUR
2. How many carats is the diamond in Snatch? 24? 64? 84?
EIGHTY FOUR
3. Due to black/white characters interacting with those in colour, the 1998 release Pleasantville had the most digital effects shots until it was replaced by which movie? The Mummy? Star Wars: Episode I? The Matrix?
STAR WARS: EPISODE I
4. Fish And Chips; The Crunchy Comedy was the French title of which British 90’s comedy? The Full Monty? East Is East? Brassed Off?
EAST IS EAST
5. Which of the three amigos was shot in the arm during their confrontation with El Guapo in The Three Amigos? Dusty? Lucky? Ned? [bonus point for naming the actor who played the character]
LUCKY [Steve Martin]
6. Which of the following is not one of the heroes in Mystery Men? Red Arrow? The Bowler? Invisible Boy?
RED ARROW
7. Which of the following Shakespearean plays has Brannagh not directed? Much Ado About Nothing? As You Like It? Othello?
OTHELLO
8. Of the following titles, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 1989? Rain Man? Dangerous Liaisons? Mississippi Burning?
RAIN MAN
9. Which of the following did not star in Road To Perdition? Alfred Molina? Daniel Craig? Jude Law?
ALFRED MOLINA
10. Who directed Hellboy and its sequel, The Golden Army? Michel Gondry? Guillermo Del Toro? Zack Snyder?
GUILLERMO DEL TORO
11. The sound of the scrolling matrix code was recorded by digitising what sound? Liquid poured onto denim? Raindrops falling against a window pane? Small battery-powered fan submerged in water?
RAINDROPS FALLING AGAINST A WINDOW PANE
12. Many critics marked down Baz Luhrmann’s Australia because Nicole Kidman’s botox injections grossly affected with her performance. True or False?
TRUE